UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Amortized cost of fixed maturities	$ 30,268,346	$ 30,157,581
Equity securities, cost	607,427	638,455
Amortized cost of short-term investments, available for sale	500,844	816,638
Amortized cost of fixed maturities, trading	2,055,722	1,946,501
Amortized cost of short-term investments, trading	7,428	14,969
Future policy benefit reserves recoverable	$ 3,261,122	$ 3,191,584
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	999,990,000	999,990,000
Common shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	258,171,836	256,033,895
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	258,171,836	256,033,895